Francesca D'Annunzio
@francescadnunz.bsky.social
Texas Observer investigative reporter covering the immigration enforcement, US-MX borderlands, AI surveillance tech, + extremism.
multilingual, nosy, and probably filing records requests
📩 [email protected]
https://linktr.ee/FrancescaDnunz
multilingual, nosy, and probably filing records requests
📩 [email protected]
https://linktr.ee/FrancescaDnunz
In 2016, Menjivar met his wife, Monica Logan.
They lived in the same apartment complex and became friends while chatting in the parking lot.
Within a week, he told her: “You’re going to be my wife,” and she laughed. In July 2017, they married in a friend's backyard.
They lived in the same apartment complex and became friends while chatting in the parking lot.
Within a week, he told her: “You’re going to be my wife,” and she laughed. In July 2017, they married in a friend's backyard.
October 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
In 2016, Menjivar met his wife, Monica Logan.
They lived in the same apartment complex and became friends while chatting in the parking lot.
Within a week, he told her: “You’re going to be my wife,” and she laughed. In July 2017, they married in a friend's backyard.
They lived in the same apartment complex and became friends while chatting in the parking lot.
Within a week, he told her: “You’re going to be my wife,” and she laughed. In July 2017, they married in a friend's backyard.
Menjivar also joined Texas activists opposing the expansion of immigrant incarceration, participating in marches to protest plans for yet another for-profit detention center that was ultimately built near Corley.
This photo was posted two months after his release from detention:
This photo was posted two months after his release from detention:
October 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Menjivar also joined Texas activists opposing the expansion of immigrant incarceration, participating in marches to protest plans for yet another for-profit detention center that was ultimately built near Corley.
This photo was posted two months after his release from detention:
This photo was posted two months after his release from detention:
Later, Menjivar informed advocates, who pressured ICE to review the case and release him.
In March 2015, then-U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee wrote to the ICE Houston field office director, advocating for Menjivar’s release.
(I attached part of that letter here.)
In March 2015, then-U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee wrote to the ICE Houston field office director, advocating for Menjivar’s release.
(I attached part of that letter here.)
October 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Later, Menjivar informed advocates, who pressured ICE to review the case and release him.
In March 2015, then-U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee wrote to the ICE Houston field office director, advocating for Menjivar’s release.
(I attached part of that letter here.)
In March 2015, then-U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee wrote to the ICE Houston field office director, advocating for Menjivar’s release.
(I attached part of that letter here.)
Her proposal for cross-border, state-to-state cooperation was unusual since international police collaboration is more often brokered at the federal level.
In one presentation, Campos Galván’s office offered: “The state of Texas could have eyes in this side of the border.”
In one presentation, Campos Galván’s office offered: “The state of Texas could have eyes in this side of the border.”
September 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Her proposal for cross-border, state-to-state cooperation was unusual since international police collaboration is more often brokered at the federal level.
In one presentation, Campos Galván’s office offered: “The state of Texas could have eyes in this side of the border.”
In one presentation, Campos Galván’s office offered: “The state of Texas could have eyes in this side of the border.”
“We must build a new border model,” she wrote, boasting of the plans for Centinela. “We are willing to share that information with Texas State authorities and commercial partners directly.”
September 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
“We must build a new border model,” she wrote, boasting of the plans for Centinela. “We are willing to share that information with Texas State authorities and commercial partners directly.”
the small town gossip I've come across in police records is truly unmatched
and, from the officer at the scene: "I didn't take any photographs of the dead chikens."
and, from the officer at the scene: "I didn't take any photographs of the dead chikens."
August 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
the small town gossip I've come across in police records is truly unmatched
and, from the officer at the scene: "I didn't take any photographs of the dead chikens."
and, from the officer at the scene: "I didn't take any photographs of the dead chikens."
That is the story about how a 2023 border checkpoint stop in Guatemala, with local **and US** authorities, appears to have been the genesis of ICE publicly labeling a Venezuelan father of two teen girls with no criminal record as a "documented" gang member.
August 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
That is the story about how a 2023 border checkpoint stop in Guatemala, with local **and US** authorities, appears to have been the genesis of ICE publicly labeling a Venezuelan father of two teen girls with no criminal record as a "documented" gang member.
The ICE statement continued: “We are confident in our law enforcement’s intelligence, and we aren’t going to share intelligence reports and undermine national security every time a gang member denies he is one. That would be insane.”
August 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The ICE statement continued: “We are confident in our law enforcement’s intelligence, and we aren’t going to share intelligence reports and undermine national security every time a gang member denies he is one. That would be insane.”
Once Escalona Mújicas was released from detention in summer 2023, he went on to go work in construction in Texas for almost two years.
He said he was never stopped by police.
From a records request, I learned he never even got a traffic ticket in Texas.
He said he was never stopped by police.
From a records request, I learned he never even got a traffic ticket in Texas.
August 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Once Escalona Mújicas was released from detention in summer 2023, he went on to go work in construction in Texas for almost two years.
He said he was never stopped by police.
From a records request, I learned he never even got a traffic ticket in Texas.
He said he was never stopped by police.
From a records request, I learned he never even got a traffic ticket in Texas.
While on a bus migrating through the country in spring 2023, he explained, U.S. and Guatemalan authorities stopped him and a few others, plucking them out of a group of passengers at a checkpoint in Coatepeque, a town roughly 20 miles from the Mexican border.
August 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
While on a bus migrating through the country in spring 2023, he explained, U.S. and Guatemalan authorities stopped him and a few others, plucking them out of a group of passengers at a checkpoint in Coatepeque, a town roughly 20 miles from the Mexican border.
But a US attaché in Guatemala claimed that Escalona Mújicas was a gang member.
Here's a snippet of the police report:
Here's a snippet of the police report:
August 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
But a US attaché in Guatemala claimed that Escalona Mújicas was a gang member.
Here's a snippet of the police report:
Here's a snippet of the police report:
Days after the arrest, Oswaldo Azuaje, a friend, helped start a social media campaign in Venezuela in an attempt to clear Escalona Mújica’s name: “He has never been imprisoned or had a criminal record. His life has always been marked by hard work and integrity," Azuaje wrote.
August 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Days after the arrest, Oswaldo Azuaje, a friend, helped start a social media campaign in Venezuela in an attempt to clear Escalona Mújica’s name: “He has never been imprisoned or had a criminal record. His life has always been marked by hard work and integrity," Azuaje wrote.
That same day, ICE issued a press release announcing Escalona Mújicas’s arrest and calling him a “documented Tren de Aragua gang member,” accompanied by a photo of him wearing a camouflage John Deere sweatshirt, silver handcuffs, and a wide-eyed expression.
August 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
That same day, ICE issued a press release announcing Escalona Mújicas’s arrest and calling him a “documented Tren de Aragua gang member,” accompanied by a photo of him wearing a camouflage John Deere sweatshirt, silver handcuffs, and a wide-eyed expression.
He said he showed his federal ID to the security camera
He’s going back to try the doorbell one last time
The lawyer is still waiting. The facility has not let her enter
He’s going back to try the doorbell one last time
The lawyer is still waiting. The facility has not let her enter
August 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
He said he showed his federal ID to the security camera
He’s going back to try the doorbell one last time
The lawyer is still waiting. The facility has not let her enter
He’s going back to try the doorbell one last time
The lawyer is still waiting. The facility has not let her enter
Two employees in white vans blocked off the parking lots
And one read this paper to Casar
And one read this paper to Casar
August 15, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Two employees in white vans blocked off the parking lots
And one read this paper to Casar
And one read this paper to Casar
I’m outside the Don Hutto ICE detention center in Taylor, Texas
CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility
CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility
August 15, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I’m outside the Don Hutto ICE detention center in Taylor, Texas
CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility
CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility
Two employees in white vans blocked off the parking lots
And one read this paper to Casar
And one read this paper to Casar
August 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Two employees in white vans blocked off the parking lots
And one read this paper to Casar
And one read this paper to Casar
I’m outside the Don Hutto ICE detention center in Taylor, Texas
CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility
CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility
August 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I’m outside the Don Hutto ICE detention center in Taylor, Texas
CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility
CoreCivic just denied Congressman Greg Casar access to the facility
Governor Abbott has also issued an exec order ordering “all appropriate state agencies to assist federal actors working under the direction of the Trump [Admin] with carrying out functions under federal immigration laws."
The extent of the order’s impact remains murky.
The extent of the order’s impact remains murky.
April 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Governor Abbott has also issued an exec order ordering “all appropriate state agencies to assist federal actors working under the direction of the Trump [Admin] with carrying out functions under federal immigration laws."
The extent of the order’s impact remains murky.
The extent of the order’s impact remains murky.
"Hi Francesca, we are going to respectfully decline an interview"
I am going to respectfully file a torrent of FOIA requests ... and you cannot stop me <3
I am going to respectfully file a torrent of FOIA requests ... and you cannot stop me <3
April 8, 2025 at 6:38 PM
"Hi Francesca, we are going to respectfully decline an interview"
I am going to respectfully file a torrent of FOIA requests ... and you cannot stop me <3
I am going to respectfully file a torrent of FOIA requests ... and you cannot stop me <3
On the DHS website, a September 2010 report of ICE's 287(g) program has disappeared.
Thankfully someone saved it on the Wayback Machine/internet archive.
Thankfully someone saved it on the Wayback Machine/internet archive.
February 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
On the DHS website, a September 2010 report of ICE's 287(g) program has disappeared.
Thankfully someone saved it on the Wayback Machine/internet archive.
Thankfully someone saved it on the Wayback Machine/internet archive.
At Border 911's Mar-a-Lago fundraiser last spring, Jones and Homan stood side-by-side, as Trump delivered a speech in front of them.
January 14, 2025 at 3:12 PM
At Border 911's Mar-a-Lago fundraiser last spring, Jones and Homan stood side-by-side, as Trump delivered a speech in front of them.
One thing I hope more journalists take note of is that there are plenty of militias with tax-exempt status in the US.
There are III%er chapters in Texas and Arizona that have or at one time had non-profit status.
Example:
There are III%er chapters in Texas and Arizona that have or at one time had non-profit status.
Example:
December 11, 2024 at 11:00 PM
One thing I hope more journalists take note of is that there are plenty of militias with tax-exempt status in the US.
There are III%er chapters in Texas and Arizona that have or at one time had non-profit status.
Example:
There are III%er chapters in Texas and Arizona that have or at one time had non-profit status.
Example:
I obtained the contract below via a Texas Public Information Act request for an investigation in collaboration with @texasobserver.org @lhreports.bsky.social @azcir.bsky.social @palabranahj.bsky.social and Puente News Collaborative.
December 6, 2024 at 4:51 PM
I obtained the contract below via a Texas Public Information Act request for an investigation in collaboration with @texasobserver.org @lhreports.bsky.social @azcir.bsky.social @palabranahj.bsky.social and Puente News Collaborative.